What's New

WILHELMI WINS CHICAGO SUN TIMES ENDORSEMENT

43rd:Democrat A.J. Wilhelmi was appointed to the Senate in 2005 to replace Lawrence Welsh. His opponent is Republican Christian Smith. Wilhelmi is co-chairing a task force to spruce up Joliet and has sponsored a bill to crack down on pedophiles on the Internet. We support his election. Click here for the article

WILHELMI PASSES SEVERAL INITIATIVES FROM THE SENATE

SPRINGFIELD, IL - I'm excited to report the passage of several pieces of legislation last week as the State Senate reached its deadline to move bills on to the House for further consideration. The bills covered a wide range of issues from public safety and local control to maintaining senior homestead exemptions and supporting safe staffing levels at state facilities.

Senate Bill 2713 increases the number of members of the Joliet Regional

Port District Board from seven to nine and gives the Will County Executive the authority to appoint three members with the advice and consent of the Will County Board. The bill received unanimous support

from the State Senate. I am pleased to give Will County residents more control over the regional port district which is an important economic engine that should be looked after by those who will benefit most from its success.

Senate Bill 2395 grants spouses of deceased dentists the ability to contract the work of a deceased's dental practice with another licensed dentist in order to keep the business afloat in order to give the survivors time to sell the business. This measure also received unanimous support by the State Senate. This bill gives those surviving family members additional time and security in their time of loss. I'm pleased to help these small businesses continue to provide dental services and keep the business going until the family can find a buyer for the dental practice instead of being forced to close the doors which current state law requires.

Senate Bill 2350 reinstates the Senior Homestead Exemption addressing a recent Supreme Court decision that removed the important tax exemption that allows seniors to continue living at home. This bill received unanimous support from the Senate as well. Although I'm sure it was not the Supreme Court's intent to do away with the Senior Homestead Exemption, by passing this legislation we ensure that the exemption remains for those many seniors who couldn't afford to live in their homes without it.

Senate Bill 2236 establishes various programs that encourage the development and use of renewable fuels. It creates the Renewable Fuels Development Program Fund which will be used by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to award grants for ethanol and bio-diesel development, research, and promotion purposes. The bill was passed with bipartisan support from the State Senate!

As a co-sponsor of the bill and the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Conservation Committee, I am pleased this legislation grants Illinoisans a choice at the pump, and every time someone in Illinois makes the choice to use renewable fuel, they reduce our nation's dependency on foreign oil. Illinois has established itself as a leader in research, production, promotion and usage of this important technology. As the federal government has worked on its own legislation to bolster this industry, Illinois has been at the forefront in creating new incentives to allow this industry to flourish.

Senate Bill 2302 establishes that new slow-burning technology for cigarette paper must be used in cigarettes sold in Illinois. The bill is an initiative of the Illinois State Medical Society, the American Cancer Society, the Associated Firefighters of Illinois and theIllinois State Fire Marshal, among others. There is no reason thistechnology shouldn't be in use if it's available. A vote for this billis a vote for common sense and saving lives. That's why it receivedbipartisan support in the Illinois Senate.

Senate Bill 2674 establishes staffing ratios for certain Stateagencies that provide essential services such as the Department ofCorrections. The bill also calls for the establishment of Task Forcesin several agencies to address staffing concerns. The safety of thegeneral public is always my greatest concern. We must also ensure thesafety of those who h ave been asked to protect the general public. They've been asked to do a dangerous job and the State should make sure that they have the manpower to do the job as safely as possible.

I'm pleased to have addressed so many important issues in this first half of the legislative session. I look forward to continuing this work as the Senate now looks to address the legislation the House of Representatives has sent over to the Senate.